Other sights in Nong Khai Province
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Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park
One of Thailand’s most enigmatic attractions, Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park is a surreal, sculptural journey into the mind of a mystic shaman. Built over a period of 20 years by Luang Pu Boun Leua Sourirat, who died in 1996, the park features a weird and wonderful array of gigantic sculptures ablaze with Hindu-Buddhist imagery.
To get to Sala Kaew Ku, board a bus heading to Phon Phisai or any other eastern destination and ask to get off at Wat Khaek (10B), as the park is also known; it’s about a fiveminute walk from the highway. Chartered túk-túk cost 150B return with a one-hour wait – don’t pay up front, or it may turn into a oneway fare. Or you can reach it by bike in…
reviewed
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Wat Phu Tok
Accessed via a network of rickety staircases built in, on and around a giant sandstone outcrop, Wat Phu Tok is one of the region’s true wonders. Six levels of steps lead past shrines and gù·đì that are scattered around the mountain, in caves and on cliffs. A 7th-level scramble up roots and rocks takes you to the forest at the summit, with fabulous views over the surrounding countryside and a truly soporific atmosphere. It’s the cool and quiet isolation of this wát that entices monks and mâa chee from all over Thailand to come and meditate here; many of them do so on the summit, so be quiet and respectful up there. The route up the mountain symbolises that the…
reviewed
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Wat Hin Mak Peng
Overlooking a lovely stretch of the Mekong, this vast forest temple is centred on a cliff rising out of the river. The very peaceful temple is highly respected because of the Thai people's continuing reverence for the founding abbot, Luang Pu Thet, who they believe reached enlightenment. Several monuments in his honour, including a glistening chedi housing his few earthly possessions and a lifelike wax statue, are found around the grounds. Visitors must dress politely: no shorts above the knees or sleeveless tops.
The temple is midway between Si Chiangmai and Sangkhom. Sangkhom-bound buses from Nong Khai (50B, 2¼ hours) pass the entrance, and then it's a longish walk to…
reviewed
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Wat Pa Tak Sua
The forest wát peering down on the town from the eastern hills, Wat Pa Tak Sua, lies about 3km away as the crow flies (ask someone to point you to the footpath used by the monks every morning), but it’s 19km to drive; the last 3km are on a dirt road. Take the turn-off across from Nam Tok Than Thong. It has the most amazing Mekong views we know of, and the sunset scene is wonderful in the summer months.
reviewed
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Nam Tok Than Thip
The Mekong dominates life at Sangkhom, but there are also some lovely waterfalls in the area. The largest is three-tiered Nam Tok Than Thip, 13km west of Sangkhom (2km off Rte 211). The lower level drops 30m and the second, easily reached via stairs, falls 100m. The 70m-top drop is only barely visible through the lush forest.
reviewed
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Nam Tok Than Thong
There are some lovely waterfalls in the area. Nam Tok Than Thong, 11km east of Sangkhom, is a wide but short drop with a swimmable pool at the bottom, although it dries up around April. The short nature trail takes you down by the Mekong. Than Thong is accessible and can be rather crowded on weekends and holidays.
reviewed
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Wat Phra That Bang Phuan
Boasting a beautiful chedi that locals believe holds 29 Buddha relics, Wat Phra That Bang Phuan is one of the region's most sacred temples. Nobody knows when the first stupa was erected here, but after moving his capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane in 1560, Lan Xang King Setthathirat commissioned grand temples to be built all around his kingdom, including a new stupa built over an older one here. Rain caused it to lean precariously and in 1970 it finally fell over. It was rebuilt in 1976–77. The current one stands 34m high on a 17-sq-metre base and has many unsurfaced chedi around it, giving the temple an ancient atmosphere; and it's this, much more than the main…
reviewed
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Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park
One of Thailand’s most enigmatic attractions, Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park is a surreal, sculptural journey into the mind of a mystic shaman. Built over a period of 20 years by Luang Pu Boun Leua Sourirat, who died in 1996, the park features a weird and wonderful array of gigantic sculptures ablaze with Hindu-Buddhist imagery.
To get to Sala Kaew Ku, board a bus heading to Phon Phisai or any other eastern destination and ask to get off at Wat Khaek (10B), as the park is also known; it’s about a fiveminute walk from the highway. Chartered túk-túk cost 150B return with a one-hour wait – don’t pay up front, or it may turn into a oneway fare. Or you can reach it by bike in…
reviewed